MADRID, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - The death toll in a plane crash at Madrid Barajas International Airport has reached 40 people, with 20 more reported to have been seriously injured, local media reported Wednesday.
The Spanair passenger aircraft MD-82 bound for the Canary Islands had 175 people on board when it skidded off the runway during takeoff at 12:30 GMT.
The airport is currently open for landings, but temporarily closed for takeoffs.
The TVE-1 television channel has reported a large cloud of smoke rising into the air at the scene of the accident.
